Variable ion hair styling appliances

Abstract

A hair drying/styling appliance includes an ion emitting circuit which directs ion onto the hair of a user, and in which the level of ion output is variable and adjustable by a user. In preferred embodiments indicators such as a series of lights on the housing indicate the level of ion output.

1 . A hair drying or styling appliance comprising: 
 a housing;    a heating element;    a fan for discharging heated air from the appliance;    an outlet for directing heated air to the desired location;    an ion emitter device comprising a positive and a negative electrode and positioned to emit ions into the flow of discharging air;    an ion generator connected to the ion emitter;    a variable output regulator connected to the ion generator and comprising a control for adjusting the ion output; and    a plurality of indicator lights connected to be responsive to the ion generator effective to indicate the level of ion output.    
   
   
       2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further defined as a hair dryer.  
   
   
       3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lights are neon lights.  
   
   
       4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the ion generator is adjustable through three ranges of output, and wherein each range is indicated by illumination of one or more lights.  
   
   
       5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lights comprises three lights on each side of the housing, wherein the ion generator output is adjustable, and further wherein within the low output range, one light on each side of the housing is illuminated, within the medium output range, two light on each side of the housing is illuminated and within the high output range, three lights on each side of the housing are illuminated.  
   
   
       6 . The appliance of  claim 5  comprising multiple translucent windows in the housing covering the lights such that each light illuminates a plurality of translucent windows.  
   
   
       7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein each light illuminates four translucent windows.  
   
   
       8 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the lights are colored lights.  
   
   
       9 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the lights are white lights and the translucent windows are colored.  
   
   
       10 . A hair drying or styling appliance comprising an ion emitter configured to direct negative ions onto the hair of a user during use, wherein the quantity of ion flow may be adjusted by the user, and further wherein the appliance comprises a visual indicator of the ion level.  
   
   
       11 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the indicator is sets of lights that are lit in response to the selected level of ion generation.  
   
   
       12 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the lights are neon lights.  
   
   
       13 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the indicator comprises one or more LED's, a liquid crystal display or one or more neon lights.  
   
   
       14 . The appliance of  claim 10 , further defined as a hair dryer.  
   
   
       15 . The appliance of  claim 10 , further defined as a hair dryer, a hot air brush, a curling iron or a flat straightener.  
   
   
       16 . A hair styling appliance comprising a handle portion and a plurality of hair styling attachments interchangeably attachable to the handle portion wherein the handle comprises a heating system for heating the attachments and an ion generating system for generating charged ions and directing the ions through the attachments, wherein the level of ion generation is adjustable and further wherein the attachments comprise pores for the flow of ions onto the hair of a user during use.  
   
   
       17 . The appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the attachments comprise a curling iron/flat straightener combination, a styling brush or a concentrator.  
   
   
       18 . A hair styling appliance comprising a handle portion and a tubular barrel for contacting and styling the hair of a user, wherein the barrel comprises: 
 a flipper;    a curling iron tong operably connected to the flipper and configured to conform to the exterior surface of the barrel, wherein pressing the flipper raises the tong off the barrel; and    a switch for locking the tong against the barrel to prevent raising of the tong when the flipper is pressed;    wherein the barrel is split along the long axis thereof into an upper portion and a lower portion each with a substantially semi-circular cross sectional conformation and wherein the two halves comprise opposing substantially planar surfaces such that when the barrel is in the closed position the two planar surfaces are in contact with each other,    and wherein the upper portion and lower portion are connected by a hinge at one end of each thereof and are operably connected to the flipper such that when the tong is locked and the flipper is pressed, the two halves separate into an open position providing a flat straightener.    
   
   
       19 . The appliance of  claim 18  wherein the barrel is detachable from the handle portion.  
   
   
       20 . The appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the handle comprises an ion generating circuit, a heating coil and a blower configured to propel heated air and ions into the barrel portion, and wherein the barrel comprises pores for directing ions onto the hair of a user during use.  
   
   
       21 . The appliance of  claim 20 , wherein the ion generating circuit comprises a voltage regulator effect to adjust the level of ions generated by the circuit.